EWG Hooks

[big g]

Sounds like you found the problem.  I always check my hooks every couple of casts, and if the knot is not in the middle of the eye I center it.  Never leave the knot off to the side of the eye.  Sounds like a problem with quality control of the hooks.  Sure glad you changed hooks.

[DMTJAGER]

Just my 2c worth
First time ever tried soft plastic flukes rigged weedless due to weeds and lily pads are 90% of the cover that holds bass in my lakes. For 35 previous years fished strictly soft plastic worms and used 100% Offset worm hooks.

But the package the flukes came in suggested 3/0 EWG worm hooks so that's what I used. Never used a EWG before had no idea they were a hook prior to this year.

My point being I had no preconceived prejudices against EWG worm hooks.

Well my 5 and 5.25" soft plastic flukes rigged weedless and worked as a soft plastic jerkbait was utterly murdering the bass in my lakes. Talking I was getting at least 10-15 hard hits in a 4-5 hour morning or evening outing. Only problem I was only hooking up about 60-65% of my hooksets and 30-35% of my hooked bass were getting off. Was very careful once I sensed a hit to fast as I could reel down to remove all slack and do a smooth sweeping hookset. Was also using 20lb braid with a swivel to co-poloymer so line stretch was not a contributing issue. But still was missing 35-40% of fish and losing 30-35% of my hooked bass. I couldn't help but notice how often my fluke was sliding down the shank and balling up in the bent area of the hook and new it was not a coincidence it happened every time I failed to get a good hook set or a bass got off. I went back to standard offset worm hooks but my hookset percentage did increase to about 70% but I felt that was still unacceptably low.

I wasn't sure what to do so I went to another bass forum and asked what was an acceptable hookup percentage listed what baits I was using what hooks and size hooks. Guys there suggested I ditch the standard EWG and OS hooks and try either or both Owner Twist Lock lite hooks or Gamakatsu Superline Twist lock hooks and upsize from 3/0-4/0

Holly crayolas what a difference. My hookup percentage went from 65-70% to 85-90% and less than 10% of the bass I hooked now get off and my fluke never balls up on the hook. Now if I miss more than 10% of fish hits it's because I have my head up younowhere not on detecting bites.   

My point being I had no preconceived prejudices against EWG worm hooks to cloud my judgement of them. After I went to the twist lock hooks, I went on line looking up soft plastic hook evaluations  and I was astonished how many YT bass fishing channels advise against using STANDARD EWG worm hooks. Many recommended various hybrid EWG but the vast overwhelming majority recommended against using standard EWG worm hooks.

Now I know and realize A LOT of guys will post stellar results using standard EWG hooks and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt what they say as true. I personally will not be among their ranks.

Based ONLY on my admittedly limited but very quiet negative results I will not be using a EWG worm hook especially when the twist locks I use have a 85-90% hookup rate and hold my fluke extremely well and much much better than either a EWG or OS worm hooks.

Just my experienced based .2c worth.

Felt I should add I wonder if going to a 4/0 VS a 3/0 had a more significant impact than going from an OS hook to a Screw lock hook.

[big g]

I like EWG hooks especially with regular plastics.  I use quality thin wire hooks, and will bend open the hook a little, to get an easy penetration.  When fishing heavy cover or using braid I will use standard EWG hooks and still bend open a little using plyers.   Have never had a problem losing fish using these techniques.  Have been using these hooks for over 30 years.